Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain for the entire period

A series of frontal systems will affect the area for the next few days.Thursday: Strong to gale NW winds. Alpine temp -6. Moderate snow. Friday: Moderate W winds. Alpine temp -7. Light snow.Saturday: Light winds. Alpine temp -10. Moderate to heavy snow.

We have no reports of avalanches during Monday or Tuesday, but that may be due to a lack of observations more than a lack of avalanches. In the NW Coastal region, the basal weakness was triggered by heavy loads (cornice fall, surface avalanches stepping down and explosives) to produce very large avalanches. Strong W-NW winds triggered a natural avalanche cycle inland on Sunday, with several slabs to size 2 failing behind cross-loaded ribs and gullies. A size 2.5 slab from the headwall above the Hankin-Evelyn area is suspected to have failed on the Nov crust/facet layer.

New and buried wind slabs exist on a variety of slopes due to strong, variable winds over the last week. In the alpine, some areas are scoured to rock, while you may find 2 m + in windloaded areas. A rain crust formed a couple of days ago on low elevation slopes. Surface hoar is buried in the upper pack at treeline in isolated sheltered areas. We haven’t had any recent reports of reactivity on this layer. A November crust/facet layer near the base of the snowpack has the potential for deep releases, particularly from a thin-spot trigger point or with a heavy trigger like cornice fall or a surface avalanche stepping down. Expect new storm slabs and wind slabs to develop during the remainder of the week as a series of fronts hits the region.